Mounting for coil springs



Dec. 26, 1933. c F| |NT 1,940,853

MOUNTING FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed Nov. 21, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet l H. C.FLINT Dec. 26, 1933.

MOUNTING FOR COIL SPRINGS Filed Nov. 21, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedDec. 26, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application November 21, 1932Serial No. 643,655

My invention relates to improvements in the mounting of coil springs,and it has special reference to their easy and ready incorporation intothe upholstering of seats for moving vehicles.

5 This application is a continuation, in part, of my copendingapplication Serial No. 577,585, filed on November 27, 1931, and entitledMounting coil springs."

The general object of my invention is to pro- 1 vide an upholstered seatfor the purpose of eliminating, as much as possible, the sudden jerksand shocks, sustained by the occupant of the seat of a rapidly movingvehicle, such as an automobile, motor bus, or railroad coach. Theserepeated 1 sudden shocks to which an occupant is subjected through theback of the seat, when continued for a considerable period of time inthe course of travel, result in fatigue and lameness in the back of theoccupant. Therefore, my invention has for its purpose the constructionof a seat of the character indicated whereby such fatigue may berelieved greatly, giving more ease and comfort to the occupant.

The former method ofmounting coil springs in the backs of seats ofautomobiles, railroad coaches, and the like, consists in rigidlyattaching the ends of the coil springs to a tape or wire webbingstretched and held taut in a frame. This webbing serves as a foundationfor the springs. In seats wherein such mounting of the coil springs isemployed, the vertical movement of the upholstering touching theoccupants back tends to be too sudden and jerky, due mainly to thisrigid mounting of the coils. This rigidity does not allow of sufiicientfreedom of up-anddown movement of the coil springs supporting theupholstering against which the back of the occupant rests as theoccupant partakes of the up-and-down movement of the seat.

to free the coil springs mounted in the seat back from a large amount oftheir otherwise vertical rigidity. I do this by securely mounting theend convolutions of the spring on flexibly mounted rocker bridges, ashereinafter described. Instead of the end convolution of the coil springbeing held rigidly on the webbing as in the past, I firmly attach bothend convolutions of each spring to these bridges which serve as flexiblymounted rocker members. These bridges are thus free to partake of alimited rocking movement without allowing the coil to buckle 'or itsconvolutions to become displaced to any marked de-'- gree from theircommon axis when the vehicle 55 jolts. This rocking of the endconvolutions of By means of my present invention I am able the springsallows the springs to utilize to their full extent their inherent springaction and thus to absorb and eliminate, to a large degree, the suddenshocks occasioned by the jolts of the moving vehicle, with the resultthat the occu' so pant experiencesmore of the sensation of floats ingand more comfort and less of the sensation of jar and Jolt with theconsequent fatigue.

My method of mounting coil springs is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which: OI

Figure 1 is a side view showing in detail a form of mounting. that I mayemploy for coil springs;

Fig. 2 is a front trated in Fig. 1; s

Fig. 3 is a front view showinga series of coil springs mounted inaccordance with my invention to form the lazy back of a vehicle seat:

Fig. 4 is a side view of the lazy back assembly of Fig. 3; I 15 Fig. 5is a side view showing in detafl a modifled form of my mounting;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the mounting shown in Fig.5 but adaptedparticularly to the construction employed for the back portion of a solazy back seat;

Fig. '7 is a front view of the mounting shown in Fig. 5 but adaptedparticularly for the construction employed for the front portion of alazy back seat;

Fig. 8 is a side view of a lazy back assembly view. of the mechanismillus- 7 embodying the construction of Figs. 5, 6, and 7;

Fig. 9 is a modified form of my invention;

Fig. 10 is a detailed front view showing a portion of the structureillustrated in Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of the mounting member that is illustratedin Figs. 9 and 10.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the lazy back comprises aplurality of rows of helically coiled springs 1 of the usual form, thatare spaced 98 from one another suflicient distances to prevent physicalcontact between adjacent springs. The springs 1 contained in eachvertical row are held in alignment by being attached to a flexible metalstrip 2. Each strip is secured at its bottom por- 100 tion to atransverse metal strip 3 that is secured at its ends to a frame 4 of thelazy back. The upper ends of the metal strips 2 may be connected throughcoiled springs 5 to the upper portion 4a of this frame. The springs,when as sembled, are then covered with a padding 6 of the usual form towhich the upholstery of the. lazy back is applied.

'As'shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 2, the end convolution of eachspring 1 is held firmly in a rocker bridge 7 preferably made of astamped metal piece of suflicient strength to resist change of shapewhen in use. This rocker bridge 7 is shown for the purpose ofillustration as possessing a substantial width and in excess of that ofthe metal strip 2. The rocker bridge 7 engages the end convolution ofthe spring at diametrically opposed points and is firmly attached oneach side to a substantial portion of the .periphery of the springconvolution. This is accomplished by ears 8, formed integrally with thebridge 7, that are bent over in order to firmly grasp and clinch the endconvolution of the spring so that movements imparted to the endconvolution will be those only allowed by the rocker bridge 7. In thismanner the plane of the endconvolution is held firmly to coincide withthe plane of the rocker bridge. The rocker bridge 7, at its centralportion is notched or recessed, and this recessed portion is formed toprovide a loop portion 9. The portion of the metal strip 2 adjacent tothe loop portion 9 is also notched or recessed, and a tie member oreyelet 10 is threaded through the loop 9 and around the notched portionof the metal web 2. In this manner the cradle platform 7 is flexiblyattached to the metal web member 2 and is prevented from sliding out ofthe notch formed in this web member.

In the construction shown, the rocker platform 7 is allowed to rock in avertical plane about the pivot provided by the eyelet 10, but isrestrained from rocking in a horizontal plane. Consequently, the endconvolution of the spring gripped by the rocker bridge 7 is precludedfrom freely oscillating but is confined to those movements in a verticalplane that the rocker bridge 7 is allowed to partake of. Both endconvolutions of each of the coil springs 1 are secured as hereindescribed, the end convolution immediately adjacent to the back of anoccupant of the seat being similarly secured to metal webs 11 that areembedded in the upholstery 6 applied to the law baclr.

In Figs. 5, 6, i, and 8 a modified form of my invention is shown,wherein the coiled springs 12 of a lazy back are arranged in a mannersimilar to that shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In this modification each endconvolution of each spring 12 is held in a rocker bridge 13 that incross-section is of substantially conical form, as shown in Fig.

5. This allows the rocker bridge 13 to pivot through a wider angle thanthe rocker bridge '7 of Fig. 1. At the apex of the rocker bridge 13 aloop 14 is formed, and this loop is received in an elongated transversedepression 15 that is formed at the proper point in a flexible metallicstrip 16.

On each side of the depression 15, the metal of the metallic strip 16 israised from the plane of the strip, as shown at 17. After the loop is isinserted in the depression 15, a wire 18 is threaded through the loop 14and the opening formed by the depression 15 and the two upraisedportions 17. This pivotally and flexibly secures the rocker bridge 13 tothe metal strip 16. In as sembling the springs 12, the wire 18 whichextends transversely of the lazy back may, if de sired, be common toeach horizontal row of springs, as shown in Fig. 6. In mounting thevertical. rows oi springs, the metal strips 16 are welded, as shown at19, to transverse metal members at that are to wood frame members 21.These frame members 21. are, in turn, se cured to the iower support 22the upper support in suitable manner.

In the front portion of the lazy back,'or that to which the upholstering24 is applied, the rocker bridges 13 are secured to flexible metalstrips 25 that possess a somewhat greater width than the metal strips16, as shown in Fig. 7. In the construction of Fig. 'l, a wire 18a isemployed to secure each rocker bridge separately to the supporting strip25.

It will be observed that in the structure of Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive,the end convolutions of each spring 12 are firmly heldin the rockerbridges 13 that, in turn, are flexibly attached to the rear metal strips16 and the front metal strips 25. The rocker bridges cannot slide up anddown the strips because of their being pivotally secured thereto by thewires 18 and 18a.

In Figs. 9, 10, and 11 another modified form of my invention isdisclosed. The rocker bridge 26 is preferably made of a sheet metalstamping and is provided with two dependent flanges 27 in which alignedopenings 28 are formed. The end convolution of the coiled spring isreceived in the bent-over ear portions 29, as shown particularly inFigs. 9 and 10. The rocker bridge 27 is pivotally secured by means of abolt 29 to a bracket member 30 made preferably of wood. The bracketmember 30, in turn, is secured by means of bolts 31 to a flexible metalstrap member 32. The bolt 29 serves to flexibly or pivotally attach therocker bridge 26 which, in turn, firmly graps the end convolution of thespring so as to hold it at all times in the plane of the face of therocker bridge.

From the foregoing description of my invention it will be noted thatboth of the end convolutions of each coiled spring are firmly secured toa rocker bridge, each maintaining fixed the plane of each endconvolution so held. Each end convolution is, of course, free tooscillate or rock about the pivot of the associated rocker bridge, 115but this pivoting or rocking action is constrained so that it occurs inone plane only. For instance, when the springs are used in the lazy backof an upholstered seat, the rocking movement of the plane of the endconvolutions of the coil is con- 120 fined to a vertical plane. Thedegree of rocking movement of the plane of the end convolution islimited to the rocking movement that the associated rocker bridge isallowed to partake of.

The end convolutions of the springs that are in contact with theupholstered portion of the lazy back are allowed to partake of a limitedupand-down movement in conformity with the movements of the back ofthe'seat occupant, but irrespective of the position that these endconvolutions occupy against the back of the occupant, the planes ofthese end convolutions will be substantially parallel to the planes ofthe end convolutions at the opposite ends of the corresponding springs,since both rocker bridges are similarly pivoted and are allowed topartake of a similar rocking action. I

As a consequence of this construction, the axis of each coil ismaintained in a substantially vertical plane which bisects the planes ofboth end 140 convolutions of the coil or the associated rocker bridges.The intermediate convolutions oi the coil are, therefore, not subject toforces to cause their displacement from. their normal axial position,and the tendency of the intermediate con volutions to buckle or tobecome displaced is substantially minimized so that at all times theinherent spring action of the coil is fully available to absorb anyquick jolts or shocks.

In view of the foregoing, it is apparent that 5 55 flexibly mountedrocker bridges of the same chareach spring, by reason of its having bothof its end convolutions firmly maintained'substantially parallel to eachother at all times, is thus precluded from becoming'buckled, and theintermediate convolutions are prevented from being displaced to anysubstantial degree from their normal position in the coil. Thiscondition obtains within the limits of the pivotal movement of therocker bridges. Again, each rocker bridge engages a sufiicient portionof the periphery of the end convolution to preclude the plane of theconvolution from being displaced from parallel relation to the plane ofthe associated rocker bridge.

As above related, the rocker bridges may partake of a limited pivotalmovement that is constrained to one plane as, for instance, in a lazyback the pivotal movement occurs in a vertical plane. Consequently; theaxis of each coil is thus allowed to move in a vertical plane and isprevented from. moving sideways in either direction. In .the assembledlazy back all of the coils are allowed to move up and down with theoccupant of the seat, thus maintaining the several axes of the coils invertical planes. Buckling and displacement of the intermediateconvolutions of each coil are precluded, and the full spring action ofeach coil is therefore allowed to function normally as a cushion againstthe back of the seat occupant.

As hereinbefore related, this instant application is a continuation ofmy copending application identified above. The structure shown in Figs.1 to 4, inclusive, is the same in all details as that shown in my saidcopending application;

My invention, nevertheless, is also disclosed in the construction shownin Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive. In all instances the end convolutions ofthe coiled springs are firmly secured in rocker bridges that firmly holdat all times the plane of the end convolution parallel with the plane ofthe rocker bridge. The rocker bridges are, in turn, flexibly attached orpivotally mounted to suitable mounting members. These severalembodiments of my invention preclude the intermediate convolutionsg ofthe spring from being displaced from their normal axial position. Inthis manner the coil springs are prevented from buckling and theinherent spring action is available to its full extent at all times inorder to absorb any shocks or jolts.

It is conceivable, of course, that other shock absorbing devices, suchas rubber cushions, may

be substituted for the coil springs 1 and 12. If

rubber cushions are employed they may be made either in cylindrical orprismatic form wherein their bottom and-top plane faces are received inacter as shown in Figs. 1, 5, and 9. In such a circumstance the rubbercushions are substituted for the helically coiled springs and thefunction of the front and rear pivotally mounted rocker bridges will beof the same nature as obtains when helical coils are employed.

While I have herein shown and described several embodiments of myinvention, it is to be understood that I desire only such limitations tobe imposed thereupon as are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A seat construction comprising a plurality of vertically spacedresilient members, a rocker bridge secured to each end of said resilientmembers, two spaced and relatively movable supporting means, saidresilient members being interposed between said supporting means, andmeans flexibly attaching said rocker bridges to both of springs andcomprising a relatively wide band said supporting means to allow saidrocker bridges to pivot about horizontal axes and to rock in verticalplanes only.

2. A seat construction comprising a plurality of vertically spacedresilient members, a rocker bridge secured to each end of said resilientmembers, two spaced supporting means having relative movementtherebetween and at least one of said supporting means being adapted tobe upholstered, cross members carried by at least one of said supportingmeans, said resilient members being interposed between said crossmembers and the other supporting means, and means flexibly attachingsaid rocker bridges to said cross members and to said other supportingmeans to allowpivotal movement of said bridges about horizontal axesonly.

3. A seat construction comprising a plurality of coiled springs arrangedin spaced vertical and horizontal rows, a rocker bridge secured to eachend convolution of each spring to hold the plane of the end convolutionin substantially parallel relation to-the approximate plane of therocker bridge at all times, spaced supporting means, attaching memberscarried by one of said supporting means, said rows of coiled springsbeing interposed between said attaching members and the other ofsaidcsupporting means, and pivoting means flexibly securing the rockerbridges to said attaching members and the other of said supportingmeans, said pivoting means allowing vertical pivotal movement of saidrocker bridges, about horizontal axes only, one of said supporting meansbeing adapted to be attached to a seat back and the other supportingmeans being adapted to be upholstered whereby the said supporting meansmay have relative movement therebetween.

4. A seat construction comprising a plurality of vertically spacedcoiled springs, a rocker bridge 11.5 which subtends each end convolutionof each of said springs and is firmly secured thereto at spaced pointsof the periphery of the end convolution, spaced supporting means, saidcoiled springs being interposed between said supporting means, andcorrespondingrocker bridges being pivotally mounted on said spacedsupporting means whereby both rocker bridges attached to each spring mayrotate in unison about horizontal axes only, one of said supportingmeans being adapted to be attached to a seat back and the othersupporting means being adapted to be upholstered whereby the saidsupporting means may have relative movement therebetween. '130 5. A seatconstruction comprising a plurality of vertically spaced coiled springs,rocker bridges subtending each end convolution of each of said v springsand secured firmly thereto, said rocker bridges being substantiallyconical in 'cross-section, spaced supporting means, said coiled springsbeing interposed between said supporting means, and means pivotallymounting said rocker bridges at the apices thereof about horizontal axesto said supporting means to allow said rocker bridges to 146 rock invertical planes only, one of said supporting means being adapted to beattached to' a seat back and the other supporting means being adapted tobe upholstered whereby the said supporting means may have relativemovement therebetween. v

6. A seat construction comprising a plurality of vertically spacedcoiled springs, a rocker bridge firmly secured at each end of each ofsaid i'or on. a substantial portion of each end convolution of each ofsaid springs and having an intermediate loop portion, spaced supportingmeans, said coiled springs being interposed between said supportingmeans, and means pivotally connecting said loop portions of said rockerbridges about horizontal axes to said supporting means to allow saidrocker bridges to rock in vertical planes only, one -of said supportingmeans being adapted to be attached to a seat back and the othersupporting means being adapted to be upholstered whereby the saidsupporting means y have relative movement therebetween.

7. A seat construction comprising a plurality of vertically andhorizontally spaced resilient members, a rocker bridge firmly secured toeach end of each resilient member, two spaced and relatively movablesupporting means between which said resilient members are interposed,and horizontally disposed mounting members on at least one of saidsupporting means, each of said mounting members being common to aplurality of horizontally spaced resilient members, said rocker bridgesbeing flexibly secured at one end to said mounting members and at theother end to the other of said supporting means to allow them to rock invertical planes only, one of said supporting means being adapted to beattached to a seat back and the other supporting means being adapted tobe upholstered.

centimetre or correction team at; i, no, 853.

December 26, i933 HYILANID 3 IFILHN'H.

iris iiereby certiiieti that error appears in the printed specificationoi the above" numbered patent requiring correction as toiiows: Page 2.,tine lilo, tor "grapsi' read grasps; page 3, linev 11b8, ciaini 3,strike out the Words and cos "about iiorizotitai axes oniy,"; and thattire said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections thereinthat the same may coniorm to the record oi the case in the Patenttitties.

Signed and sealed this 113th day oi February, A.

.- (Seat) ii. i i. iiopirios Acting Commissioner oi Patents.

